Churches & monasteries

Church of St. Matthias in Siewierz

Behind the market square of Siewierz, not far from the castle of the bishops of Kraków, stands the Church of St. Matthias the Apostle. Its beginnings reach the first half of the 15th century — at that time only the presbytery was of brick, and the nave was built of wood. The present Baroque-Classical form was given to the church by the extension of 1782–1784, carried out at the initiative of Kajetan Sołtyk, Bishop of Kraków.

Bishop Sołtyk's rebuilding

The church was then extended westwards, a new single-tower facade with a Baroque portal was raised, along with a vestibule, a treasury and a chapel on the south side. Above the portal hangs a wooden plaque with Rococo ornament, the bishop's monogram and coat of arms, and the date 1783. In the high altar you can see the image of the patron, St. Matthias the Apostle; the aisles are flanked by the chapels of Our Lady of the Rosary and of Christ Crucified.

The wall with the bishop's gate

The church is surrounded by a wall with three gates; the prettiest, a three-arched one, is called the bishop's gate and photographs well from the street.

Practical information

The church stands at Kościuszki Street 12, a few minutes from the market square and the castle — the three monuments are best visited in one walk. A visit inside takes a quarter of an hour; afterwards you can head for the Błędów Desert or Ogrodzieniec Castle, both close to Siewierz.